What will become of the name Arthur?

[PSL1990]

For our last baby, we considered the name Theo in case we'd have a boy. We're having another baby now and trying to decide on a boys name. We've gone off the name Theo and when I've told people this they've commented that as it has been/is a really trendy name it's gotten a bit..... c word (chavvy, sorry!). Now we really like the name Arthur but I can see that that is quite a trendy name, perhaps a bit of a fad in terms of the current v recent historic popularity. So my question is, with a name like this, do you think it will become (sorry to use this word again, I know you hate it but not sure how else to describe what I'm getting at) chavvy?

[MissHenty]

Not at all no.

[MandeLular]

No, but I don't think Theo has gone that way either.

[LizzyMargaret]

I don’t understand the connection between popular and chavvy. I’ve seen my daughter’s name be described as chavvy because it’s spiked in popularity recently and I didn’t understand the connection lol. Arthur is a very handsome, solid name. It‘s popular, not chavvy.

[MissHenty]

Yeah all the really posh people I know (of which I am not one) pick top 10 type names as do the royal family. It’s more unusual names people tend to look down their noses at ....

[LizzyMargaret]

@MissHenty I thought so too. I don’t know how any name can be described as chavvy anyway but popularity doesn’t fit the typical definition of the term for me.

[Katfood]

I've seen names like Archie, Jayden, Ryan described as chavvy on here. Not sure about Artie, but Arthur should be fine.

[TakeYourCanvasBags]

I don't know about "chavvy" but it is a brilliant name.

Growing up, there was a boy at school called Arthur. I remember my parents laughing at a child having such an old-fashioned name but for us as kids, it was just a name - I was aware that he was the only Arthur in the school but I didn't have any other preconceptions about it. Anyway "my" Arthur was cool. I mean really cool. He was one of those guys that even as a small child just exuded something special. As a teenager he reminded me of Luke Perry in BH 90210. Anyway, for that reason I'm always associated the name with awesomeness and it's definitely a name I would consider if I had a son . I say go for it!

[TenThousandSpoons]

Arthur is definitely not chavvy but then neither is Theo.

[SinglePringle]

I like it but one of the TOWIE lot called her son ‘Are’fur’ and as a result, I would no longer use it.

[IVflytrap]

Arthur is nice, as is Theo. Both are popular, and yes poor people may well also use them, if that's your concern.

If you're genuinely worried about being associated with the lower orders, call him Mungo or Algernon or something else suitably Etonesque.

I don't think I've ever come across as much snobbery in real life as I have on these boards.

[BennyTheBall]

I love the name, but that awful Faires (sp) woman has an 'Ar-fah', which has tainted it somewhat.

[PSL1990]

Sorry, didn't mean to offend @IVflytrap!

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

I'm ashamed to say when I was pregnant I spent a lot of time worrying over which names were 'chavvy' and which weren't.

Am now Mum to a wonderful kid with special needs. Life can be challenging for him. What's become very noticeable is that the kids in his class who show him the greatest kindness and make big efforts to include him are the ones from the hard-up families with the supposedly chavvy names.

It's been supremely humbling and I made me really question my not-so-unconscious bias.

My advice: call your kid whatever you like. And teach them then to be kind, fair and a good friend. If they behave like that then people won't give a rat's ass what their name is.....

[MissHenty]

@BatleyTownswomensGuild what a beautiful post. I’ve got tears in my eyes.
Sending lots of love to you and your little boy ❤️

[Thetimetravelerswife]

@BatleyTownswomensGuild an amazing post.

When pregnant I was the same...over worrying about chavvy names.

But I’ve come to realise there aren’t really chavvy names anymore. Everything’s become mixed. The names have become universal for all.

So just relax and pick a name you like, as even a “posh” name you pick can eventually become a “chav” name.

[Mattelio]

I dont think Theo is a chavvy name, and I dont think Arthur will be either but it's definitely common now.

Personally I dont understand the popularity of Arthur, I'm not keen at all.

[JolieOBrien]

What about Art Garfunkel? I always liked his name which is short for Arthur.

[user1493494961]

Theo isn't chavvy.

[thatguiltyfeeling]

I'm 19 and had an Arthur in my year at school. I also know of at least two babies with the name, same with Theo. Both lovely names but I definitely prefer Theo!

[Hundredacrewoods]

Has Arthur had such a spike in popularity that the name will later date to within a few years? Maybe, but this is not the same thing as the name being “chavvy”.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

I think it's true that we hold names in higher or lower regard depending on people we know with those names.

It's possibly for that reason I'm not keen on Theo, although I'm also not fond of the sound of the name.

Arthur is a given name for UK Princes Charles, William and Louis. Not sure if that makes it more, or less desirable in terms of social kudos.

[ilovechocolatebiscuits]

My son is Arthur and everyone says it's posh aha!

[OctopusNow]

Depends on where you live, I'd avoid if I was in an area where he'd get called Arfur regularly.